Even So We Speak

From Silence to Song

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 22:30:18 GMT

Malachi speaks into a world grown cold.

When we open the book of Malachi, we are standing at the edge of the Old Testament, looking across the centuries toward the coming of Christ. Malachi is the final prophetic voice before heaven goes silent for four hundred years. After Malachi, no prophet speaks, no visions are given, no angelic messages are recorded. The next voice Israel hears is the cry of a baby in Bethlehem and the preaching of John the Baptist saying, "Prepare ye the way of the Lord."

Malachi speaks into a world grown cold. Worship has become routine. Priests had become careless. People had become cynical. The nation had returned from exile, but their hearts had not returned to God.

And yet - in this climate of spiritual indifference - God begins this final book of the Old Testament with the most surprising words:

"I have loved you, saith the LORD" (Malachi 1:2).

This is the beginning of our Christmas journey. Long before a manger in Bethlehem, before shepherds heard angels, before wise men followed a star - God declared His unchanging love to a people who doubted Him.

If you find yourself doubting God, allow the truth and hope of the Scriptures to bring you from the cold darkness of doubt into the warm light of Christ's promise. May this Christmas season be one of song instead of silence.

The Objectives of Our Journey

jphillipwakefield@gmail.com (Jeremy Wakefield) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 18:21:30 GMT

THE OBJECTIVES OF OUR JOURNEY

THE OBJECTIVE OF OUR JOURNEY

Three Perspectives of the Apostle Paul

Philippians 3 is where Paul clarifies the objective of his journey. Every Christian can and should share in these three perspectives. The Christian life is one of growth and progress toward the goal of becoming like Christ. The longer we are saved, the more we should resemble our Savior. When we first become believers, our lives often have a lot of the “baggagee” of the past life and the world. With each passing day, pieces of that baggage should fall by the wayside as we walk in newness of life.

Salvation through Jesus Christ is the starting point of our faith journey. That is where we must begin. At salvation, God places us in Christ . That means we are “clothed in His righteousness.” God works in His salvation and it is now our duty to work out what He has worked in. This is the process of sanctification or growing in grace or being conformed to the image of Christ. This process of growth doesn’t take place automatically. It is a journey.

It can become easy to grow discouraged in the journey of faith, especially when we have a lapse of faith, face discouraging times, or unexpected circumstances. But the Scriptures outline the only way possible to go from victory unto victory. We must learn Christ, we must lean toward Christ, and we must continually look for Christ!

THE FIRST OBJECTIVE: LEARNING CHRIST

In Philippians 3:10-14, 20-21, the apostle Paul reveals his primary objective. “That I may know Him” (Philippians 3:10). Obviously he already knew Christ in salvation ; but what Paul speaks of here is the developing of that relationship in an intimate, meaningful, purposeful, and practical way. Positionally he knew Christ and Christ knew him. But practically , Paul desired to know more about Christ . That is a worthy goal for all believers!

F.B. Meyer said this about knowing Christ :

“We may know Him personally intimately face to face. Christ does not live back in the centuries, nor amid the clouds of Heaven; He is near us, with us, compassing our path and our lying down, and acquainted with all our ways. But we cannot know Him in this mortal life except through the illumination and teaching of the Holy Spirit…. And we must surely know Christ, not as a stranger who turns in to visit for the night, or as the exalted king of men - there must be the inner knowledge as of those whom He counts His own familiar friends, whom He trusts with His secrets, who eat with Him of His own bread.”

He goes on to say:

“To know Christ in the storm of battle; to know Him in the valley of shadow; to know Him when the solar light irradiates our faces, or when they are darkened with disappointment and sorrow; to know the sweetness of His dealing with bruised reeds and smoking flax; to know the tenderness of His sympathy and the strength of His right hand - all this involves many varieties of experience on our part, but each of them like the facets of a diamond will reflect the prismatic beauty of His glory from a new angle.”

You can become involved in religion and know “rules” and “preferences” and never really know Christ. You can have a “form of godliness” but miss out on the “power of His resurrection.” a

“We should never rest until we know Him as we know our friend,” says F.B. Meyer, “and are able to read without speech the movements of His soul.”

Like John the beloved who leaned on His bosom, we are able to hear the heartbeat of God through prayer and Bible study. Through the Scriptures we learn of His power, presence, preeminence, and perfection.

That was Paul’s objective, his high aim, his goal to pursue: that I may know Him. Are you learning to lean on Jesus? And in learning to lean, are you finding more power than you ever dreamed?

Ephesians 3:16

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

We cannot learn all we need to know of Christ without knowing Him first through a personal relationship. And we cannot learn of Christ all that is available to us without a continual practice of communion and fellowship with Him.

Paul lived in this. We might call it the Galatians 2:20 life.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

What are you pursuing in this life? What is the objective of your Christian journey? Don’t settle for anything less than knowing Christ .

Consider this: To know someone requires genuine interest. Getting to know a person well involves spending quality time with him. In a meaningful and progressive relationship, each person reveals himself - his likes and dislikes, his hopes and fears, his ambitions and history, his thoughts and feelings. Building such an intimate relationship is not the work of one or two days; it takes time, effort, and purpose.

First, do you know Christ Jesus as your personal Savior?

Secondly, are you getting to know Him as your close, personal Friend?

Third, do you have an ongoing connection to Him that is daily, intentional, and productive?

At salvation, we trust Him. Through sanctification, He develops in us all that we need in order that He might trust us. There is no greater “objective” for the Christian journey than to know Christ.

Jeremiah 9:23-24

23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

For one, I’m glad I know who Jesus is. But on the other hand, I want to know more about my Lord!

Christian, you may be going through a dark season and a difficult time in your life, but it will be through these times that you will learn about His presence. Don’t let Satan make you bitter through this season of discouragement and trial. God’s grace is sufficient and He can strengthen you through the storm. In the storm you can actually learn more about Him. You are never alone. He is aware. He is available. He is accessible. He is able.

Paul made this his objective for two reasons: (1) “I am not what God wants me to be yet.” (2) “I am not yet finished with all that God wants me to do.” That is essentially what he was teaching the believers at Philippi in verses 7-21 of Philippians 3.

THE SECOND OBJECTIVE: LEANING TOWARD CHRIST

In Philippians 3:12-14 we discover that the more we learn about Christ the more inclined we are to lean toward Christ . Critics and skeptics may accuse the Bible-believing Christian of leaning on a “crutch,” but we are confident as we stand upon Christ the Solid Rock!

When we make our objective learning of Christ and leaning on Christ , the less we rely on our ability, wisdom, experience, or knowledge to get us through life.

Paul challenges us (including himself) to forget the past (vv. 12-13). Sadly, many believers are ineffective in the present because they are either gloating in past accomplishments or wallowing in past failures.

While we should always be thankful for yesterday’s grace and past victories, His mercy and grace is fresh every single morning and there are victories ahead ! Solomon instructed his son to keep his eyes focused forward: “Let thine eyes look right on, and thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand or to the left: remove thy foot from evil” (Proverbs 4:25-27).

There is a time to rest and reflect . But there is never a time to retreat . We are running forward and toward the prize. We might need to repair and revive, but let us not focus on retirement from the journey. Paul was ever moving forward and toward Christ !

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after….”

Not only is it about forgetting the past but it’s about fighting for the prize. And what exactly is the prize? “... that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12). “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God” (Philippians 3:14). “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith….” (Hebrews 12:2). It is being conformed to His image (Romans 8:29) and standing complete in Him when all is said and done.

That is the focus or objective of the present Christian race. Wherever you are in your journey right now - in this very moment - see to it that you are taking steps toward Christ . The focus is on His person (Philippians 3:14).

Ephesians 6:6-7

6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

It’s the mindset that says: “I just want to please the Lord.”

“... that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11)

It’s easy to make ourselves the “object” of praise because of our old Adamic nature. If we yield to the flesh that is exactly what will happen. We will desire to hold some of the glory for ourselves. It’s when we lose the wonder of who He is that we will fail to worship Him in the proper way.

That is why Paul was always “adjusting his sights.” We too must continually align ourselves with this objective.

The objective of the journey is learning Christ. The objective of the journey is leaning toward Christ. And finally, the objective of the journey is looking for Christ.

THE THIRD OBJECTIVE: LOOKING FOR CHRIST

Philippians 3:20-21

20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence we also look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

There are three great reminders within this goal of “looking for Christ” and His return. What are they? It’s three important reminders that will keep us focused in the Christian race.

We must always remember that our location is temporary. When Paul was writing to the believers at Philippi, he was writing from prison. But that was not a dead-end for Paul. The ones that received this letter were residents of a place called Philippi, a Roman colony. Though under occupation, they and Paul belonged to another Kingdom - God’s Kingdom. They were residents of a Heavenly city! As are we. This world is not my home, I’m just passing through! We are strangers and pilgrims, aliens if you please. While we live on this earth it is our desire and objective to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We long for His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. But we also look forward to the day when we change locations. What a moving day that will be!

We must always remember that our longing is temporary. We are not just pining for something that may or may not happen. He is coming again! He has gone to prepare a place for us (John 14). Heaven is real. Eternity is coming. We are longing to see Christ face-to-face (1 John 3:1-3; 1 Peter 1:8). But remember, these urgent longing is temporary. One day soon faith will give way to sight! Keep running in His direction.

We must always remember our likeness is temporary. He is going to “change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21). What a promise! What a prospect! Paul touches on this reality in 1 Corinthians 15:51-57. John speaks of it in 1 John 3:1-3.

One glorious day - soon I believe - the completion of our salvation will come to fruition. These bodies of flesh will change from corruption to incorruption. No longer vile, we will be eternally victorious! No longer sinful flesh, we will be like the Savior whom we see face-to-face.

These “perspectives” keep us in the race. These “objectives” align our focus with what is the most worthy goal. Heaven will be sweet and wonderful and glorious. We cannot even begin to imagine what it will be like in Heaven. And many times we overlook the reality that God will set up His Kingdom on this earth and rule for 1,000 years during the Millennial Reign of Christ. We who are born again will return to reign with Him. We cannot even begin to imagine how exciting that will be and all that is involved with His Kingdom. But above Heaven the place and the Kingdom peace , the primary objective is the PERSON who makes it all possible… JESUS!

Today, let us learn of Christ. Let us lean toward Christ . And as we do, let us continue looking for Christ to come any moment.

The Race Is Not Over Yet

jphillipwakefield@gmail.com (Jeremy Wakefield) — Wed, 21 May 2025 14:13:05 GMT

Run for Christ until the race is won!

The Race Is Not Over Yet!

In Philippians 3:12 the apostle Paul uses the metaphor of sprinting in a race to describe his persistence in the Christian journey. He writes, “ Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after ….” Some might have looked at Paul early on in his Christian life and said, “Hey, you’ve made it. You’ve arrived. There’s nothing really left for you to accomplish in this life.” But Paul lists two qualifiers. He said, “I have not attained.” And “Not as though I… were already perfect.”

After a race was over, the winner was given a wreath recognizing his achievement. That is what Paul is referring to - noting that it only comes at the end of the race. “I have not yet done all that God has for me to do.” He is also saying, “I have not yet become all that God wants me to become.” I’m still running. I’m still striving. I’m not learning. I’m still growing. This awareness is what kept him in the race for the long haul.

Too many Christians have quit striving to reach the mark. The race is not over yet!

God Is Not Weary of You

jphillipwakefield@gmail.com (Jeremy Wakefield) — Wed, 21 May 2025 02:25:29 GMT

When you come to the foot of the Cross, He will never turn you away!

Luke 18:1-8

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Will He find in you the faith that banks on Him in spite of the confusion?

There are seasons in our lives when we are clouded by the confusion of our circumstances. It might be that we are following God as closely as we ever have but we feel that the path He is taking us down is difficult, confusing, maybe even unclear. More difficult is when we feel we cannot see Him .

He may appear an unkind friend in that moment, but He is not.

He may appear to be an unloving Father in stormy seasons, but He is not.

Trust Him. Wait on Him. Rest in Him. Call on Him.

Soon the shadows will give way to His light and you will see things the way He does.

Until then, will you hold on to the One who never lets you go?

Don't stop trusting.
Don't give up on waiting.
Don't think for a moment He will dessert you.

Know this: God never gets tired of hearing you pray!

God is never wearied with our weariness. When we come crying to Him, He does not curtail our complaints. When we go to talk with Him, we will not hear Him say, "Get over it!" Rather, He says, "You will get through this. My grace is sufficient. I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." The Psalmist said, "In the day of my trouble, I sought the LORD." Why? Because every time he rushed to God before , God met Him with consideration and comfort. That gave him confidence in prayer. He will do the same for you. Keeping turning to God in prayer.

God is not weary of you.

COURAGE COMES FROM BEING WITH JESUS

jphillipwakefield@gmail.com (Jeremy Wakefield) — Sun, 18 May 2025 01:00:49 GMT

COURAGE COMES FROM BEING WITH JESUS

Acts 4:13-20

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? For that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

I wish I had the fearless nature of Peter and John. It didn’t matter if they were threatened with prison, persecution, or the pain of death, nothing would stop them from telling whosoever about Jesus. It did not matter who, when, where, or how - they were going to speak of Jesus and His resurrection. What boldness and courage! What confidence! While Christianity today (specifically in America) is free from direct persecution, we still need confidence in Christ, courage and boldness in the face of a nation that is becoming more and more hostile to New Testament Christianity.

Thankfully, the same Holy Spirit that filled Peter and John and the Early Church with power and boldness is the same present Comforter with us today. We can learn to emulate the fearless nature of the apostle by confidently depending on the Scriptures and the Spirit of God.

Philippians 1:6

6 being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Being confident is not walking around with an arrogant spirit or a divisive nature. We do not want to be obnoxious to our community or confuse the unbelieving world as to what Christianity is all about - but we do need to trust God rather than fear what man says or threatens to do.

Proverbs 29:25 reminds us: “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.”

Our world is working harder than ever to make Bible-believing Christians feel uncomfortable, intimidated, and doubtful concerning the faith. They want us to cower under the cover of tolerance while they are intolerant of the truth of God’s Word. How will we respond?

Peter and John rose up in courage and confidence when speaking about the Resurrected Christ! Paul declared, “I am not ashamed of the gospel” (Romans 1:16). At one time Peter and John were dominated by fear, but that was all before the cross and prior to the Resurrection. No longer would they allow fear, criticism, doubt, threat of persecution to pull them back or cause them to refrain from speaking up.

You must understand: living in the First Century was often a very difficult experience for early Christians. They were under continual threat of persecution from the Jewish religious leaders and the Roman authorities. Yet, the apostles and the Early Church confidently proclaimed the Gospel. In Acts 2 Peter confidently preaches on the day of Pentecost and thousands of souls are saved. Now in Acts 4, Peter and John have been arrested, imprisoned, and called to stand trial. Here we find Peter and John standing before enemies of the cross. He knew they hated the message of the Resurrected Christ. And what did Peter do?

With confidence he declared:

“Neither is there salvation is any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

How was Peter, John, and the Early Church so bold , courageous, and confident? How can we - Christians in 2025 - stand with confidence in a culture that is quickly becoming confident in their unbelief?

The Cause of Courage.

What caused Peter and John to be confident, courageous, bold, and unapologetic concerning the Resurrection of Christ Jesus?

They had been with Jesus!

Acts 4:13

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus .

Peter, James, John, and all the other disciples spent over 3 ½ years with Jesus during His earthly, public ministry. They witnessed miracles. They listened to His powerful words and doctrine. They experienced His gentleness, kindness, mercy, and grace firsthand. They knew what kind of man He was. They knew what sort of faithful friend He truly was. They frequently listened to Him pray to the Father. They heard what the Father said of Him. They heard what His enemies said concerning Him. They heard what those touched by Him said of Him.

They were witnesses to the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Christ. Though they all forsook Him and fled for a time, they made their way back - some to the Cross - some to the Upper Room. And yes, for a few days they were hiding in shame and fear. But then, the Resurrected Christ appeared to them. He infused them with a courage and confidence that they didn’t have prior to His crucifixion.

The Sanhedrin probably thought they could quickly dismantle the faith and boldness of these “unlearned and ignorant men,” but little did they know, they had a source of power within that could not be easily extinguished. They were walking in Resurrection power!

We today “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). We are to live by the resurrection power (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:10).

Galatians 2:20

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Philippians 3:10

10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Jesus promised us the presence and power of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13; Luke 12:11-12). We do not need to be afraid that God will abandon us at any point, especially when we face fearful trials.

The cause of courage is the strength we get from depending upon the Savior. The one thing that was unmistakable and undeniable concerning Peter and John is that they had been with Jesus. May that be the one unmistakable and undeniable thing said of us!

As you spend time with Jesus, God will see to it that you are “conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29). The only way we can think, talk, walk, act, and live like Jesus is by spending time with Him. If we would have the world see Jesus in and through us, then we must stay close by His side through prayer, Bible reading, and Spirit-filled living.

Ephesians 5:18 charges the serious Christian, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” If you are going to be filled with anything, be filled with the Spirit of God! Be filled with the mind of Christ! Be filled with mercy, grace, hope, love, faith, courage, and confidence!

Standing up and speaking with boldness, courage, and confidence is not speaking proudly in the flesh, but speaking confidently from a knowledge of the Scriptures and by the power of the Spirit. It is an embarrassment when so-called “Christians” are LOUD but EMPTY. We need the world to “see the boldness” but associate it with the fact that we have “been with Jesus.”

The boldness of Peter and John was not a distraction or a misdirect. It wasn’t a front . They were not “putting on.” They were not faking anything. They were showing forth Christ! They were genuinely representing Him. They could speak with authority because they had actually been with Jesus!

It can be intimidating to think about being a witness at work, school, or in public. But when we have spent much time in prayer and in the Word of God, we draw from a source that produces Spirit-filled confidence and grace-filled courage.

The Conflict of the Critic.

Being confident in Christ will not make you popular with the world. You will not be applauded, appreciated, or acknowledged with kindness by those who are antagonistic toward the truth of God’s Word.

Now, there will be some who are merely uninterested and will quickly dismiss the offer of the Gospel. But we are living in a culture that is increasingly hostile and will go out of their way to denounce the truth of the Word of God. Many spend great efforts and energy attempting to dismantle Christianity on social media outlets every single day.

Jesus warned of strife against the godly in John 16:33 -

“ These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world .”

Here’s a very hard truth to come to terms with: the unbelieving world is hostile to Christianity because they fear the godly influence of the Church and the believer. Jesus “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38) and the world “hated him without cause” (John 15:25). If you spend time with Jesus - in prayer and in His Word - and if you strive to live for Him every single day, you will have an influence on the world around you. You will either influence others in a positive manner and win them to Christ or encourage them to draw closer to Him; or, you will cause those who refuse Christ to disdain your way of living and the Gospel influence of your life. Those uncomfortable with your witness and Spirit-filled life will either distance themselves from you or seek to defeat you in your walk.

Later on Peter would write these words in 1 Peter 3:14 :

14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

We are trouble to the unbelieving world. We are trouble to the enemies of the Cross. We are trouble to those who live under the influence of the god of this world (Ephesians 2). But we are not to be troubled in our spirit.

The Sanhedrin thought that when they killed Jesus it would solve their problems, but they had not anticipated Christ’s resurrection and now the bold, courageous, confidence proclamation by Christ’s followers. Things were getting out of hand and out of their control.

Acts 4:1-2

And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

I would rather grieve the world than grieve the Holy Spirit of God! While the lost world may despise our message and deny our faith, and though they may seek to intimidate us into silence, we do not have to allow their threats to shape our conduct. Don’t give in to social pressure. Don’t give up on sinners either.

The Constancy of the Courageous

Be confident! Be courageous! Be consistent!

When the challenge came and they were threatened (Acts 4:17-18), Peter and John had a choice to make. They decided to obey God rather than men. Without hesitation they chose to stand for Christ and the truth of the Resurrection. They did not dip or duck or dodge. They were not seeking to be defiant but they would not back down.

Acts 4:19-20

But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

This reminds me of the man in John 9 who was born blind. After Jesus gave him his sight, the enemies of Christ wanted to find out who and where Jesus was and stop Him. They did everything they could to discourage this man that Jesus healed. But they could not deny the miracle and the change in his life. He had “been with Jesus.”

John 9:25

He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no , I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

He said, “All I know is, I was blind, but now I see!” It always makes a difference when Jesus passes by!

Why do we fear God more than we fear man ? Because we know what God has done!

Acts 5:29

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Luke 12:4-5

4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge:

but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Are you more worried about what man can do or what God can do? Are you more worried about what man says or what God says? Are you more concerned about upsetting people or disobeying God? You and I have a choice to make. Peter and John made their choice. What will your choice be today?

The Christian who fears man will sooner or later fail to stand firm for God. Satan has used the fear of other people to cause many a Christian to stumble into defeat and discouragement. He wants you to stop speaking with boldness and confidence. He doesn’t want you to be courageous. Will you listen to him more than the One who said this to Joshua:

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest (Joshua 1:9).

You and I have the same God that Joshua had! As He was with Moses, and as He was with Jesus, so He will be with us!

We must expect criticism and threats; but we must also expect the faithfulness of God!

We cannot expect that our lives will always be comfortable and convenient; but we can expect that there is courage and confidence in Christ no matter the situation.

1 Peter 4:12-14

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Don’t think it strange when criticism comes. Don’t think it strange that the world rejects the Gospel message. Don’t think it strange that there will be adversaries to your faith. What should be strange to us is a Christian who refuses to stand with boldness, confidence, and courage when he has at his disposal the source of strength : Christ the solid Rock!

So long as we stand firm on Christ our source we have nothing to fear! We may feel powerless , but He has all power !

Matthew 28:18-20

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

First and foremost, you must know Jesus as your personal Savior. That is the primary way to “be with Jesus.”

Secondly, you must spend time with Him and get to know Him better by growing in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18). This takes place through continued prayer and Bible study (John 5:39; John 15:17; James 4:7-8; 1 Peter 3:12).

Treasures Unseen: Why Your Unseen Ministry Matters to the Local Church

jphillipwakefield@gmail.com (Jeremy Wakefield) — Sun, 18 May 2025 00:54:25 GMT

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If You Are Running Away from God, Repent and Return!

jphillipwakefield@gmail.com (Jeremy Wakefield) — Fri, 16 May 2025 14:14:11 GMT

If you're on the run... return!

God sent His prophet Jeremiah with a strong message and a stern warning: " Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backsliding shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts " (Jeremiah 2:19). God sometimes punishes one sin by allowing us to fall into another. Every sin brings its own punishment, and we can sometimes read the sin in the punishment. Our backsliding reprove us, they become our preachers, solemnly addressing our sin against God. They point backward to the past, to the days of our first love - "the hour we first believed." Do you remember the time when you first turned to Christ and the Gospel? Do you remember those first few hours and days after salvation, how excited you were?

The nation of Israel knew firsthand the magnificence, majesty, and might of God. He delivered them from the bondage of Egypt, parted the waters of the Red Sea, faithfully led them through the wilderness even in spite of their disobedience, murmurings, and unthankfulness. By the hand of Moses he took care of them for forty years. By the hand of Joshua he then took them into the Promised Land. How soon they forgot! Their love waned. The excitement of their memory faded. Their zeal for the Lord cooled as they warmed themselves by the fires of the world.

" Know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God ."

It is wrong. It is filled with woe. It is bad and bitter. It is sinful and it will be sorrowful. It is rebellion and it will leave you filled with regret. If you're on the run from God, the call of Jeremiah goes out to you today: RETURN! You've not gone too far to be forgiven. You are not out of reach of His grace.

" For I am merciful, saith the LorD, and I will not keep anger for ever " (Jeremiah 3:12).

Jeremiah reminds Israel, Judah, and the modern reader of his prophecy that God disciplines those He loves. And that is what God was about to do in Jeremiah's day - bring judgment upon wicked and rebellious Israel and Judah. They had gone too far. God still views sin the same way He always has: as rebellion against His person, His ways, and His will. God sent Jeremiah as a prophet to His people to warn them of coming judgment for their sin if they did not repent and return.

What evil had they done? God spells it out plainly throughout Jeremiah's preaching, but Jeremiah 2:13 gets to the point:

"For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water."

In short, the people of God had committed idolatry, worshipping other gods instead of the One true God of Israel. Idolatry is one sin that God takes very personally. That is why we need the compassionate but uncompromising message of Jeremiah today!

The Book of Jeremiah.

The book of Jeremiah exists to teach us how sin will bring full judgment from God in order that His people may be restored.

Judgment always precedes blessing.

The book of Jeremiah is set against a dark period in Israel's history. It was the midnight hour. It took place during the reigns of Judah's last five kings: Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. Backsliding is the prominent issue. J. Sidlow Baxter says, "All national deterioration and disaster is due fundamentally to the disregarding and disobeying of God."

Jeremiah 2:8, 2:19, and 2:35 touch on the perilous times of the day:

Jeremiah 2:8, " The priests said not, Where is the LORD? And they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. "

Jeremiah 2:19, " Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backsliding shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts ."

Jeremiah 2:35, " Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned ."

There is an obvious breakdown of spiritual leadership within the nation. This is indicative of the state of affairs in many countries around the world today! It's sad to see the many churches in America that are following on the heels of inept spiritual leadership. The blind are leading the blind. Sin has gradually ceased to be recognized as sin. Innocence is professed amid wrongdoing, evil, and defilement. Immorality has infiltrated homes and houses of worship. Sin pulls mankind down a slippery slope of rebellion that often starts at the top and works its way down.

The nation and the people that dishonor God by denying Him usually degenerate into defying Him. This is clearly demonstrated in Jeremiah 36:27, 38:4, and 37:2. Much like today, Judah's politicians were busy explaining that the kingdom's troubles were due to a geographical dilemma - Egypt to the south, and Assyria to the east; but Jeremiah's message was that the nation's calamities were judgments of God for her iniquities.

1 John 1:10 reminds ALL men: "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (see Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Romans 5:12).

How can the book of Jeremiah help individual Christians, local churches, and nations today? Sin is still in the world, and God is still God; therefore, history repeats itself. Our politicians are still floundering about among "second causes." The fundamental cause of all our troubles is that GOD IS FORGOTTEN! We discuss policy instead of putting away sin. It is the same today as it was in Jeremiah's time. Will nations ever learn that national decay and ruin are due to failure towards God? Jeremiah's message is a message for today!

The book of Jeremiah is a call to repent and return .

2. The Broken Heart of Jeremiah

As you read Jeremiah you will discover why he is known as "the weeping prophet." He is a prophet with a broken heart. Some have called him the "Job Among Prophets." He is appointed by God, called by God, and sent by God to fulfill a ministry in which, after a period of forty years, he doesn't see a response. Jeremiah would weep , but he is not weak . He shed many tears but he was bold to tell the truth . He was sensitive but not strengthless . He was compassionate but he refuses to compromise . He was a little-child before God (Jeremiah 1) but a lion-hearted champion of the truth before the rebellious men of the world (Jeremiah 2-10).

Jeremiah reminds us of Jesus who reveals a true heart-likeness in his suffering sympathy both with God and men. Disappointed, under appreciated, disregarded, misunderstood, misrepresented, and persecuted Christian servants today can find courage and comfort from the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah didn't just speak for God, he felt with God. Jeremiah remained faithful to the Lord and his calling in spite of persecution.

God called Jeremiah to a ministry that was both constructive and destructive . It wasn't all doom and gloom, because like the entirety of the Scriptures there is a rainbow of hope and grace recognizable across the story's stratosphere. Jeremiah, consistently compassionate and faithfully firm in his message, reveals the long-suffering and mercy of God.

When speaking of coming judgment, Peter speaks as to why it hasn't happened yet: "And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation" (2 Peter 3:15). Paul told Timothy that God's heart is to "have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). Peter again clarifies: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing to that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." It is through his tears that Jeremiah speaks the truth. It is from a heart of compassion that he refuses to compromise. Imagine the grief that Jeremiah shared with God after the counsel of God has been declared, the nation He loves remains unrepentant.

Imagine how sorrowful the heart of God longs after the wayward, rebellious, unrepentant sinner!

3. The Boldness of Jeremiah

Jeremiah denounces the wickedness of the day and boldly declares "thus saith the LORD."

There are two recurring expressions throughout the book of Jeremiah. God sends word: "I will punish" and "I will restore." There is wrath to the full but there is love to the end. God is a God who "in wrath, remembers mercy" (Habbakuk 3:2).

Jeremiah 26:12-13

12 Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, the LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard.

13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.

God was graciously extending an eleventh-hour offer. But Israel and Judah refused to respond. They ran toward rebellion and away from mercy.

You may think that your voice makes little difference in the world today for the Gospel's sake, but can I encourage you: keep running for God after those that are running from God!

Be bold! Be compassionate... but refuse to compromise. Stand firm. Stand faithfully. Stand for the truth. We are called to recall wandering hearts to the One they have forsaken! We must show the backsliding believer and the rebellious rejector that there is a balm in Gilead (8:22), hope (14:8), a Potter who never throws the clay away (18:6), a righteous branch (23:5) that imputes to us, not our sin, but His righteousness. And He is the KING (23:5) and our true resting-place (50:6).

May our hearts break for those who break the heart of God.

Friend, if you are on the run from God (as a wayward believer, backslidden, and prodigal) or if you have never received Him as Savior at all - I plead with you - "Come to the Savior, He patiently waits."